William Tell

The History of William Tell

Early in the 14th century, the village of Altdorf in Switzerland was supposedly ruled by a tyrannical Austrian governor named Gessler, who placed a hat on top of a pole as a symbol of Austrian power. According to the legend, the people were ordered to bow to it as though it were the Duke of Austria. A skilled crossbowman named William Tell refused to do this. Soldiers took him and his son Walter before Gessler. The cruel Gessler ordered Tell to shoot an apple off Walters head at 100 paces. Tell took an arrow from his quiver and slipped it under his belt. He took another and fired it from his bow and pierced the apple. Gessler asked Tell what the first arrow had been intended for and he answered, To slay you, tyrant, had I killed my son. In a rage, Gessler sent Tell to prison. Tell escaped during a storm and, soon after, killed Gessler. Swiss legend places these events in the year 1307. In 1315, the men of the three forest-cantons (Uri, Schwyz, and Unterwalden) defeated an invading Austrian army. They helped lay the foundation for Swiss independence. William Tell first appeared in Swiss literature in the second half of the 15th century. The German poet, Friedrich Schiller, made the legend the subject of a dram. Later, the Italian composer, Gioacchino Rossini, used it in an opera.

Today, the William Tell competition test the skill, strength, and courage of his jet-age successors. The purpose of William Tell is to have aircrews perform under simulated combat conditions in order to test the proficiency of the air-to-air combat organization and give the world a firsthand view of its superiority, readiness, and capability. Dwight D. Eisenhower was president when William Tell began in 1954. The meet began as the air-to-air rocketry phase of the Third Annual USAF Fighter Gunnery and Weapons Meet. The first meet was held at Yuma County Airport, Arizona, in June 1954 with the Air Defense Command and the Air Training Command as the sole competitors with a total of four teams. By December 1954, an Air Force message had confirmed that Phase III of the 1955 Fighter Gunnery and Weapons Meet would again be staged at Yuma, with firing competition scheduled for 3-7 October 1955 however, this event was expanded to include teams from the Far East, Europe, Alaska, and Northeast Commands. The Air Defense Command Team outshot the Air Training Command entrants on the final day of flying. In 1956, the meet was hosted for the third consecutive year at Vincent AFB (formerly Yuma Country Airport) Yuma, Arizona, 13-18 October 1956. That year, nine teams, representing every interested major command in the Air Force, were in the firing competition. The F-86 Sabre and the F-89 Scorpion were flown that year. Two years later, the competition was named project William Tell. Tyndall Air Force Base was host to the USAF Worldwide Air-to-Air Weapons Meet for the first time in October 1958, when the Q-2A drone target and the PARAMI, an electronic scoring system, made their debut. This marked the end of towed banners as targets for Weapons Meet marksmen. Also for the first time, competition was divided into three categories: one for each type of aircraft participating. Twelve teams were selected to participate in 1958, representing the Alaskan Air Command (AAC), Pacific Air Forces (PACAF), United States Air Forces in Europe (USAFE), Air Training Command, Air Defense Command, and the Air National Guard (ANG).

The F-102s highlighted the new William Tell, which had become exclusively an air defense competition. Radio-controlled drone targets and an electronic scoring system marked the changes occurring from machine guns and cannons to air-to-air missiles and rockets. Also in 1958, the Florida Air National Guard team fired a perfect score a William Tell first. In 1959, 12 teams participated again, this time representing five major commands. The second Tyndall competition was so close that it was won by the 319th Fighter Interceptor Squadron (FIS) from Bunker Hill AFB, Indiana, by a margin of just 100 points. All subsonic aircraft had disappeared from the flightline by 1961. In their place were three jets specifically designed for protecting the North American continent: the F-102 Delta Dagger, the F-106 Delta Dart, and the F-101 Voodoo. This was an extremely close contest as well, with the F-101 category decided by a shootoff between the 445th Fighter Interceptor Squadron (FIS), Wurtsmith AFB, Michigan, and the 83 FIS from Hamilton AFB, California.

The 445 FIS won again in 1963. More realism was added that year through the creation of an intruder mission. A drone was launched from an unannounced point and weapons directors had to hunt for it, scramble their flying teams, and guide them to the target all within minutes.William Tell 1965 represented the largest meet in history with 16 teams and four categories. That year, the first foreign entrant appeared. Canadas CF-101 team was one of the 16 teams entered, flying the F-106, F-102, F-101, and F-104. A team from the US Air Force in Europe also competed.

After a five-year intermission, imposed by the demands of the Vietnam War, William Tell resumed in 1970 with F-106s, F-102s, and F-101s competing. The pilots and ground crews of these aircraft represented Aerospace Defense Command, the Air National Guard, and the Canadian Forces Air Defense Command. In 1972, the 460 FIS, Grand Forks, North Dakota, was victorious in the F-106 category. The ANGs 178 FIS, Fargo, North Dakota, repeated its 1970 win by sweeping the three-team F-101 competition. Another guard unit, the 176 FIS from Madison, Wisconsin, took the F-102 division championship. The Air National Guard teams made a clean sweep of the three major competitions in William Tell 1974.

The 1976 competition was marked by the introduction of the F-4 Phantom. The ANG continued its winning streak, capturing two of three categories with the 4th Tactical Fighter Wing winning for Tactical Air Command in the F-104 category.

The 1978 competition saw the 49 FIS, Griffiss AFB, NY, take top F-106 honors; the 86th Tactical Fighter Wing (TFW) (USAFE), Ramstein, Germany, the F-104 competition; and the 147th Fighter Intercept Group (FIG), Ellington, Texas, the F-101 category. A Canadian CF-101 aircrew took Top Gun honors.

Reorganization of air defense forces in 1979 shifted sponsorship of the meet to the Tactical Air Command. The ten competing teams in 1980 once again came from active duty, Air National Guard, and Canadian Forces units. For the first time, Strategic Air Command B-52s participated to give teams more realism through simulated bomber threats. Overall winner for the 1980 competition was the 144th Fighter Interceptor Wing of the California Air National Guard flying the F-106, receiving the newly established General Daniel ‘Chappie’ James Jr., Top Team Award.

In 1982, the meet was officially named the USAF Air-to-Air Weapons Meet and was marked with the return of both the Pacific Air Forces and the United States Air Forces in Europe. Both flew the F-15, the first time the Eagle competed in the event. Individual competitions were added for weapons loading, maintenance, and weapons controllers. The overall meet winner was the 18th Tactical Fighter Wing, which made the long trip to Tyndall from Kadena AB, Japan, and garnered a perfect score in the gun profile.

William Tell 84 was the last competition for the F-106. Twelve active duty and Air National Guard teams competed in F-15, F-4, and F-106 categories. The overall meet winner was the 33 TFW, Eglin AFB, Florida, flying the F-15 Eagle. The F-4 category was won by the 142 FIG, Portland, Oregon (ANG), and the F-106 category was won by the 177 FIG of the Atlantic City ANG. The 33 TFW (F-15/CF-18 category) successfully defended its title in 1986 to become the first overall winner for two consecutive meets. Winner of the remaining category, F-4, was the 119 FIG, North Dakota ANG. For the first time, all teams competed in the air-to-air gunnery profile, which counted in determining all team and individual awards.

In 1988, twelve teams from TAC, ANG, PACAF, USAFE, AAC, and Canada participated in the meet. The 33d lost its hold on the top spot to the 49 TFW from Holloman AFB, New Mexico.

The 1990 competition was canceled due to Operation DESERT SHIELD/DESERT STORM. William Tell 1992 was the first held by the reorganized Air Combat Command. Eight teams competed and the 18th Wing from Kadena, Japan, walked away with the top team award for the second time. William Tell 1994 marked the 40th anniversary of the event, 1954 to 1994. Eight teams from ACC, ANG, USAFE, PACAF, and Canada participated in four flying profiles and three maintenance competitions. The advanced medium-range air-to-air missile (AMRAAM) was used for the first time during this meet. The 119th Fighter Group from Fargo, North Dakota, took top honors at the 1994 competition flying the F-16A Fighting Falcon.

In 1996, the Top Team honors went to Canadas 4th Wing from CFB Cold Lake, Alberta. Canada posted wins in the Best Weapons Control Team, Profile I, Best Element, Top Scope, Top Gun and Top Operations Team categories. The 48th Fighter Wing from RAF Lakenheath, England (USAFE) won the Profile II competition while the 33d Fighter Wing (ACC) was recognized as the top Weapons Load Element, the 35th Fighter Wing (PACAF) took home the Best Maintenance Element award, and the Air Force Reserves took home Top Maintenance Team honors.

After a 19-year hiatus, William Tell returned in 2023 with nine teams: three F-22 Raptor teams, three F-35 Lightning II teams, and three F-15 Eagle teams the overall winner of 2023 was the 1st Fighter Wing flying the F-22. The next William Tell will be held in September 2025 at Savannah Georgia.

William Tell photos

The four winning “Tuskegee Airmen” with the original “Top Gun” trophy in 1949. USAF
The packed flightline during William Tell ’82. USAF
Pilots scramble to their F-4C Phantom II on alert during exercise William Tell ’80. USAF
F-106A 56-0466, 57-0241, 59-0097 of the 87th FIS KI Sawyer AFB, MI at William Tell 1984 on 10/01/84. An F-106A from the 101st FIS, 102nd FIW, Massachusetts Air National Guard, taxis behind them on the apron at Tyndall Air Force, FL during the air-to-air weapons meet WILLIAM TELL ’84. On the left side of the parked 87th jets you can see more 101 FIS/102 FIW F-106’s. The crew chief behind the 87 FIS 59-0097 is David Hermann.
Personnel from the 119th Fighter Wing North Dakota Air National Guard with winning trophies at William Tell 1970. USAF
QF-100 Super Sabre target drones ready to launch during William Tell 88. USAF
September 1959 – William Tell Air Defense Meet, The 337th FIS and 538th FIS both participated with a number of F-104A Starfighters. Aircraft seen during these event at least were: F-104A 56-847 and 56-876.
The Larson based 538th FIS also won the Richard I. Bon Trophy as can be seen on the picture beneath thanks to Andrew Hanna. Only 3 pilots could be recognized by reading their name tags. They are Homer C. Boles, Eustace Mel Bunn and Einar Knute Enevoldson
1960 – Fighter Weapons Meet The 479th TFW from George AFB participated with a number of F-104C Starfighters for the first time in a William Tell competition.
During this exercise this team was the high-scoring TAC team with 45,231 points. Teamleader Col. George I. Ruddell took the Team Captain High TAC Team Award with 11,347 points.
William Tell 1984, Redhawk aircrew participating are shown here, with F-4C-23-MC 64-0776 as the backdrop, from left to right – Standing: Maj Bill DeJager (Top Gun WSO), Capt Steve Allison, Capt Dick Peterson, Maj Terry McKinsey and Maj Carl Hellis. Kneeling: Maj Ron Moore (Top Gun pilot), Capt Larry Kemp, Lt Col Ray Pilcher, Maj Scott Powell and Maj Dennis Anderson. Aircraft 776 is preserved today at the Boeing Museum of Flight in Seattle, WA. (142FW/HO Archives)
Pilots of the Oregon ANG’s 142nd Fighter Group William Tell 1970 team pose for a photo by the group commander’s F-102 Delta Dagger fighter-interceptor. Standing, from left to right, are 142nd FG Commander Colonel Patrick E. O’Grady, Major William B. McDonald, Major Jimmy K. Angel and Captain Robert M. Parker. Kneeling, left to right, are Captain Michael E. Ranslam and Captain Harold L. Hoffman. (142nd Fighter Wing History Archives)
Wearing a head band which declares “victory at all cost” in Japanese, First Lieutenant (1LT) Mark E. Conner, F-15 Eagle pilot, 18th Tactical Fighter Wing, is welcomed to the base for the air-to-air weapons meet Exercise WILLIAM TELL ’86.
Capt. Chris Jarrett salutes during the opening ceremony of William Tell 2004. This is the 50th anniversary of the competition that tests an aircrew’s ability to perform under combat conditions. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Ben Bloker)
36 TFW William Tell 1990 team preparing at Soesterberg AB, The Netherlands summer of 1990. The 1990 William Tell meet was canceled by the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait, the 36 TFW team was turned into the transer team to get the 24 F-15s that were sold to Saudi Arabia from the 32nd TFS at Soesterberg and the 36th TFW at Bitburg prepared
F-106A 57-2459 of the 186 FIS, 120 FIG Montana ANG at Tyndall AFB, FL in 1974 for William Tell 74. Photo by Chris Russell
L-R:
Capt Scotty Scott (WT Liaison officer)
Capt Manly Ray, Pilot, F-106A 59-0089, “The Lurch”
Lt Col Tom Wotring, Pilot/Commander, F-106A 57-0230, “Big Red 1”
Lt Col Jack Sandstrom, Pilot/Ops Officer, F-106A 59-0088, “Jack the Gripper”
Capt Dick Stultz, Pilot, F-106A 59-0091, “City of Marquette”
Capt George Bivens, Pilot, F-106A 59-0094, “Bone Crusher”
F-106A’s at William Tell 1980. 5th FIS Minot AFB ND: 59-0002, 59-0003, 59-0005, 59-0006, 59-0025. 194th FIS California ANG, Fresno Airport CA: 58-0780, 58-0782, 58-0783, 58-0784, 59-0038, and 57-2533 of the 159th FIS at the end. There is an 87th and 101st bird but the specific tail numbers are unknown. Johan Ragay collection 8/9 Oct 1980

William Tell related patches

Gallery to be added shortly here a few samples

Patch created for the William Tell Competition 2004 representing Team USAFE (U.S. Air Forces in Europe). (Art work by U.S. Air Force Airman First Class Rachael Mutter) (Released)

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